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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure about you, but I can usually tell when a book I'm reading is going to be five stars. It begins with the opening chapter, which I typically read and then set the book aside for a few hours. If I finish the chapter and want to read more, it's a good sign. If I keep thinking about that chapter in between reading sessions, it's another good sign. More than that, though, a five-star book gives you a little frisson of something. I don't know if it is joy, excitement, or anticipation, but it is a feeling that stays with you after finishing a reading session. It makes it difficult to fall asleep and distracts you from other tasks if you read during the day. It's not tangible, but it is there all the same.
A FORGERY OF FATE by Elizabeth Lim met all of these criteria and had me doing what I haven't done in a long time, which is read well past my normal bedtime. It wasn't a conscious decision. I literally lost track of time while reading it. I love it when that happens!
Ms. Lim talks about her inspiration for A FORGERY OF FATE being the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, and yes, there are the generic similarities to call it a retelling. However, I never felt like I was reading a retelling of that classic tale. The mystical world of Ai'long and even the crowded city of Gangsun are as different from medieval France as you can get. Truyan Saigas is no victim, and she certainly holds her own in any situation. She is no damsel in distress and finds herself in the role of protector. As for Alung, he is less beast than some heroes and more focused on protecting his people than wooing the girl.
A FORGERY OF FATE is a magical story. I don't say that because it contains magic, which it does. I say that because it is the type of novel that makes you feel young again. It reminds you of what it feels like to fall in love the first time, especially if you don't expect it. You feel all the hope and possibility of youth. If you are young and reading it, I imagine it gives you the motivation you need to keep hoping and believing in all the possibilities ahead of you. When the real world feels like it is burning down around you, A FORGERY OF FATE is a welcome respite, one that gives you a little extra zest for life to allow you to face that real world again as well as the strength to keep on trying to make it a better place.
A FORGERY OF FATE by Elizabeth Lim met all of these criteria and had me doing what I haven't done in a long time, which is read well past my normal bedtime. It wasn't a conscious decision. I literally lost track of time while reading it. I love it when that happens!
Ms. Lim talks about her inspiration for A FORGERY OF FATE being the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, and yes, there are the generic similarities to call it a retelling. However, I never felt like I was reading a retelling of that classic tale. The mystical world of Ai'long and even the crowded city of Gangsun are as different from medieval France as you can get. Truyan Saigas is no victim, and she certainly holds her own in any situation. She is no damsel in distress and finds herself in the role of protector. As for Alung, he is less beast than some heroes and more focused on protecting his people than wooing the girl.
A FORGERY OF FATE is a magical story. I don't say that because it contains magic, which it does. I say that because it is the type of novel that makes you feel young again. It reminds you of what it feels like to fall in love the first time, especially if you don't expect it. You feel all the hope and possibility of youth. If you are young and reading it, I imagine it gives you the motivation you need to keep hoping and believing in all the possibilities ahead of you. When the real world feels like it is burning down around you, A FORGERY OF FATE is a welcome respite, one that gives you a little extra zest for life to allow you to face that real world again as well as the strength to keep on trying to make it a better place.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Truyan Saigas’s sea merchant father disappeared in a voyage 5 years ago, and to make ends meet for her, her two sisters and her mother with a penchant for gambling, Tru has put her painting skills to work as an art foger, until one day past debts are called in, circumstances align and her world implodes. To save her family and hopefully find her father, Tru begins to use her gift of Sight and agrees to marry the mysterious demon prince (who is actually a dragon lord) and help him break his curse.
Drawing from Chinese lore with subtle influences from Rumplestilskin and Beauty and the Beast, I completely loved this story! It was fresh and I enjoyed savoring this unique story and its twists and turns. I also loved the turtles, mermaids, dragons, and the water demon, and how they were blended together in Al’long. I loved how the dragon kingdom and magic was water-based, which was not something I would have expected. Truyan’s magical gift of Sight, plus her street smarts as a con artist, and how they prepare her perfectly for mission with the demon/dragon prince and the fake marriage she agrees to with him, are a blend of components I know well from other fantasy stories, but put together in an invigorating way.
I savored this book as I read it, enjoying the originality of it, the excellent writing, the slow burn between the leading characters. It was everything I hope to experience when I read a new fantasy book, yet I rarely find. I wholeheartedly recommend it and give it 5 stars - something that I have not been able to do for many books I’ve read so far this year. (So far it's 40 and counting.)
This book is appropriate for tweens and teens. It has a swear word here and there, but it squarely fits into the YA category and i am excited to give it to my kids to read. No 🌶️ besides some warmth-inducing kisses. (Kisses and wishes, then?)
Thank you to @elimpix @randomhousekids @randomhouse for the #netgalley ARC!
#AForgeryofFate
Drawing from Chinese lore with subtle influences from Rumplestilskin and Beauty and the Beast, I completely loved this story! It was fresh and I enjoyed savoring this unique story and its twists and turns. I also loved the turtles, mermaids, dragons, and the water demon, and how they were blended together in Al’long. I loved how the dragon kingdom and magic was water-based, which was not something I would have expected. Truyan’s magical gift of Sight, plus her street smarts as a con artist, and how they prepare her perfectly for mission with the demon/dragon prince and the fake marriage she agrees to with him, are a blend of components I know well from other fantasy stories, but put together in an invigorating way.
I savored this book as I read it, enjoying the originality of it, the excellent writing, the slow burn between the leading characters. It was everything I hope to experience when I read a new fantasy book, yet I rarely find. I wholeheartedly recommend it and give it 5 stars - something that I have not been able to do for many books I’ve read so far this year. (So far it's 40 and counting.)
This book is appropriate for tweens and teens. It has a swear word here and there, but it squarely fits into the YA category and i am excited to give it to my kids to read. No 🌶️ besides some warmth-inducing kisses. (Kisses and wishes, then?)
Thank you to @elimpix @randomhousekids @randomhouse for the #netgalley ARC!
#AForgeryofFate
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I loved this book! I sped through Elizabeth Lim's other books that take place in this world, but it is not necessary to read them first, though I would recommend it if you have the time.
Fake dating/marriage is such a fun trope, and I really liked it in this book. Elang is probably one of my favorite love interests now. I almost cried at two different parts, and I am not normally a crier. I highly recommend this book!
I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Fake dating/marriage is such a fun trope, and I really liked it in this book. Elang is probably one of my favorite love interests now. I almost cried at two different parts, and I am not normally a crier. I highly recommend this book!
I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
fortune 😭 finds 😭 those 😭 who 😭 leap
everything elizabeth lim creates is nothing less than magical. as expected, this was so cinematic and fairy-tale like, and everything i could’ve ever wanted. somehow she managed to top six crimson cranes, so i will be thinking about this book until her next one
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes